PKR supporters dance in the middle of a sea of humanity to the beat of Indian drums
1215: And then, the heavens open, drenching the high-spirited crowds. “Hujan keramat (showers of blessings)!,” shouts one PKR supporter, looking up into the sky, as FRU personnel lining the road look on, blankly. I count 13 police trucks on my way out after dashing for shelter under one of the many stalls along the main road. Among those spotted in the crowd by others are Raja Petra, Rais Yatim, and Ezam.
1145: It’s a three-corned fight, with the third candidate coming from Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim), which is said to be a Pas splinter group, set to play a spoiler’s role. All objections have been rejected. A huge roar erupts when Anwar’s name is announced. The Indian drumming group and dancers are now back in action livening up the atmosphere further. Thunder rolls in the sky as if to accompany the beat. It is threatening to rain.
Earlier, the Pakatan crowd were chanting “Al-tan-tu-ya!” in the open field at the BN supporters.
A PKR Chinese drumming group also performed as an appreciative, largely Malay crowd snapped photos.
Blog reader Muhammad Firdaus Christopher comments:
Syukur Alhamdulillah, Datuk Seri has started his journey towards being our 6th Prime Minister and the show begins tonight. For the record, I was there since 7.00am until about 11.45am and Masya Allah, I have never seen ever the thunderous and huge supporters of Pakatan Rakyat (PKR, DAP, PAS) bestowing in Penanti/ Permatang Pauh. I strongly believe and estimate the crowd of supporters ranging between 90,000 – 110,000. I am speechless…
Love live DSAI and lets us all work extra hard to ensure that his first step into Parliament happens on the 26th August when we cast our votes.
1100: My researcher friend has revised his estimate of the Pakatan crowd to 70,000 – and I tend to agree with him, more or less. But another PKR supporter says it exceeds 100,000 as there are still a lot of people further away.
Anwar has received three or four objections to his candidacy from the BN side, while PKR has not filed any objections against the BN’s Arif Shah.
On the BN side of the field nearby, Umno supporters have unfurled a banner: “Jangan pandang belakang” – a none-too-subtle innuendo.
A senior PKR woman party official from KL tells me that 20 buses of PKR supporters have come from Bangsar while a dozen have come from Cheras. A Sabahan, for his part, says about 100 Sabahans are also here “to learn” from what is going on.
One Permatang Pauh voter predicts Anwar will win with a 15,000-majority but the woman PKR official says it doesn’t matter what his majority is as long as he is back in Parliament.
1030: The sun is blazing down and it is getting hot – in more ways than one. BN supporters are being given a “hot” reception. PKR supporters are lining their paths, jeering vociferously and taunting them by waving one ringgit and ten ringgit notes in front of them. The loudest jeers are reserved for dark or black cars that may be carrying high-ranking BN officials. Police are keeping a watchful eye while riot police have separated supporters with partitions in the field further away.
“It’s like a festival,” says an elderly Indian gentleman, though the BN supporters can’t be enjoying it too much. In fact, it must be rather intimidating for them to walk through such a crowd.
Malay PKR supporters are chanting Makkal Sakthi whenever they spot Indian Pakatan supporters. They respond with broad grins.
0955: A PKR supporter, seeing me on the laptop, walks up to me and asks me for my estimate of the crowd size.
I tell him I have been getting reports that it is around 30,000 to 50,000, some saying even 100,000 and over.
“Impossible,” he responds, “it is much bigger than that. My friend is still stuck 3.5km away in traffic trying to get here.”
I ask him for his estimate of the crowd size.
“That’s not for me to say. I just want you to be fair and give a realistic figure.”
I press him again for his estimate.
“250,000,” he responds.
Earlier, a Pas supporter next to me put the figure at 50,000.
Who can tell for sure? I wish I was in one of those helicopters above.
Blog reader Frankie sends us this report:
Early this morning, at 7.00 am, I can see the police helicopter flying throughout the area of Permatang Pauh and I can already sense this is going to be a different peaceful morning that Permatang Pauh is used to. Come 7.50 am, I drove out heading to the Seberang Jaya roundabout, I can see PKR and Pas supporters heading to the BKE expressway. I did see a bus ferrying PAS supporters stopping over at Subbaidah nasi kandar for breakfast before proceeding and I can see all the traffic lights surrounding area have standby traffic cops.
Hold on to your seat, it is showtime.
0905: Now let’s talk about the crowd size. A researcher friend of mine who has positioned himself in the BN side of the field nearby estimates that the BN supporters do not exceed 5,000. “There’s still a lot of space in the field here,” he tells me. “I can even run the 100 metres here!”
He adds that the slogan chanting, led by Puteri Umno, has become rather personal. “Liwat tetap liwat!” they chant and “Anwar kaki buntut!”
Over at the Pakatan side, the researcher tells me the crowd is probably in the range of 30,000, though some PKR supporters are estimating 100,000 to 150,000. The truth is no one can say for sure as the area is chocker-block with people.
0855: A sea of people with Pakatan flags and banners continue to overwhelm the crowd of a few thousand BN supporters. I bump into bloggers Haris Ibrahim and Zorro and they are in high spirits. I ask Haris for his estimate of the crowd. “”It’s unbelievable,” says Haris. “I dare not even estimate the size of the crowd.”
In fact, the crowds are flowing in from all directions. Two police helicopters are now circling overhead surveying the crowds below – so that tells you something.
Earlier, Pakatan bystanders were teasing the BN crowd walking in and mocking them. As a group of BN women walked by under a BN banner with pictures of Abdullah and Najib, someone from the roadside greeted them: “Selamat pagi, datin-datin hadhari.” Another taunts them, “How much did they pay you to attend this?”
0815: Greetings from near the Nomination Day centre here at Institut Maktab Perguruan Tengku Bainun in Penanti, where there’s a huge crowd of PKR supporters along the Penanti exit of the Butterworth-Kulim expressway.
It’s a festive atmosphere here – notwithstanding half a dozen FRU trucks on standby and a police chopper clattering overhead.
Indian PKR supporters are dancing on the road leading to the nomination accompanied by drummers.
Other PKR supporters have removed a banner from a flyover, purportedly put up by Pas supporters urging Pas to boycott the by-election. “These are dirty tricks,” a PKR supporter muttered as he took down the banner.
About a dozen Indian women clad in beige saris, donning BN caps, make their way among the throng of PKR supporters.
DAP supporters are also making their presence felt with rocket flags in evidence here and there.
I spot PKR’s Gobalakrishnan wearing an Anwar mask. These Anwar masks are selling like hot cakes.
But BN supporters are conspicuous by their absence. Where exactly are they? Let me go and look for them!
Related posts:
We hope that this will be a new beginning for Anwar and Malaysia.
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This election is not just about Anwar anymore. It’s all about removing the shackle from ourselves which the BN had put us in for the past few decades. Let’s hope the good people of Permatang Pauh realise that our future as well as their own is in their hands.
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DSAI needs all the help he can get!!! This election will not be as easy as this. Dirty tricks have already started. Wee Ka Siong and Arif was present at chinese schools (allegedly) promising rm 200K allocation each.
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Anil,
Can you update us with some pictures.We in Sarawak and Sabah wish to see the atmosphere there.
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[...] Permatang Pauh by Lilian ~ August 16th, 2008. Filed under: politics. If you are curious about what’s going on in Permatang Pauh, head over to Anilnetto’s blog to catch the latest news. [...]
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Saiful Lied :
http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/sai-full-of-lies/
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Early this morning, at 7.00 am, I can see the police helicopter flying throughout the area of Permatang Pauh and I can already sense this is going to be a different peaceful morning that Permatang Pauh is used to. Come 7.50 am, I drove out heading to the Seberang Jaya roundabout, I can see PKR and Pas supporters heading to the BKE expressway. I did see a bus ferrying PAS supporters stopping over at Subbaidah nasi kandar for breakfast before proceeding and I can see all the traffic lights surrounding area have standby traffic cops.
Hold on to your seat, it is showtime.
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Thanks Anil for keeping us posted from the ground … of course, getting a lift from the helicopter might be nice for the quantity of people, but the quality for interaction and atmosphere seems better on the ground!
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Anil
excellent photos, more pictures please, i am in melbourne and wish to be part of the change
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anil
Thank you for the picture.It is just so terrific.Anymore?
What about Anwar walking past the sea of crowds!
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It is show time in Permatang Pauh
This is the day BN will fall
The people of Permatang Pauh
Gathered to lend support
For the good son has returned
To claim his glory denied years ago
Forget about the sodomy charge
It is another farce up package
By the desperate leaders to derail his come back
On the whole it has many holes……..
Now the supporters and friends
On the streets dancing with freedom
This is the man Malaysia needs
As he will unfold the stage we will be
BN/UMNO leaders know
The time to fall has come near
No matter what they say
No matter what they want to hatch out
The Rakyat shut down their allegiance
For BN/UMNO is on the way to oblivion
So the voters of Permatang Pauh
The Rakyat wait for your decision
The future of the country lies in your hands
With it the man to lead the country
Of so many colorful people and religions
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go DSAI go… we all want a new Malaysia. the support I see in permatang pauh this morning (m still here) is just enormous. i estimate a crowd of more than 70,000. this is just amazing. never before i saw this huge a crowd in any nomination day. this for sure indicates a new dawn for MALAYSIA, my beloved country. DSAI is in every person’s heart. we want him to be the next PM of this country. the world too wants DSAI. MAKKAL SAKTHI…. MAKKAL SAKTHI…. MAKKAL SAKTHI…..
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Permatang Pauh Voters decide for Nation?
Pengundi Permatang Pauh tentukan untuk Negara?
1. Voters of Permatang Pauh will vote come 26 August 2008. Who to vote for and What to vote for? (Man of Honour in Nostradamus Quatrains on Wag the Dog?)
Pengundi-pengundi Permatang Pauh akan undi menjelang 26 Ogos 2008. Mengundi Siapa and mengundi untuk Apa? (Man of Honour di Nostradamus Quatrains Wag the Dog?)
2. 50 Questions to test your Conscience at Jeyklls and Hydes in Malaysia – Are You?
50 Soalan untuk menguji Suara Hati anda di Jeyklls and Hydes di Malaysia. Adakah Anda?
http://patek1472.wordpress.com
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P44: result :Majority votes 44,000!!!
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Anil,
I have also informed my readers to log in your blog for latest up-date. Keep it up, and thanks, Anil!
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I’m going over to Permatang Pauh for a wedding reception. See you there guys. May the force be with you.
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Dear beng kung lim,
Terima kasih atas sumbangan anda.
Sokongan dari rakan seperjuangan seperti anda menguatkan semangat kami untuk menegakkan keadilan dan kebenaran di tanahair tercinta.
Anwar Ibrahim
Thank you for your contribution to our campaign.
It is the support of people like you that gives us the courage to continue moving forward.
Thank you again.
Anwar Ibarhim.
Dear Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim
You are very welcome.
We should on the other hand be thankful to you for giving us hope and leading Malaysia out of the tunnel of darkness that BN had led us into. Keep up the fight never give up. We are with you all the way. Just do not forget us when you are at the top. You are a great Man.
Every problem is an opportunity
Social right and fairness the main priority
Every setback just increases the potential energy
That will unleash the Merdeka Spirit of Freedom and Equality.
Rgds
BK Lim
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Long live PKR!!!!
This … Sai-fo_l has (probably) been directed … to come out today to try and destroy DSAI. He is a real …… with a pea brain mentality. Should be sent to a gay haunt …
Anyway, the rakyat is more mature to see the dirty tactics play by the BN … now. Rakyat will not believe in whatever they say no matter what. Non of the … in the BN can be trusted. Our usual Mr. C4 open his big fat ugly mouth where he should be worrying the Mongolian Lady horror death and maybe he submarine corruptions scandal. Where r the submarines or maybe they are just use as sleeping bunkers for our navy. Guess they r better than a 5 or even 6 stars hotel.
We all rakyat will stand up to PKR all the way to VICTORY.
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[...] Anilnetto.com:- Vast PKR multitude overwhelms BN Crowd [...]
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Go Go Go DSAI.
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We the Rakyat, should evaluate and determine the kind of Leaders we want for our beloved country, Malaysia
Here are the Top 10 Qualities of a Good Leader
By David Hakala
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Leadership can be defined as one’s ability to get others to willingly follow. Every organization needs leaders at every level. Leaders can be found and nurtured if you look for the following character traits:
A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it. But it’s not enough to have a vision; leaders must also share it and act upon it. Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric Co., said, “Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion.”
A leader must be able to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it. He or she must communicate clearly and passionately, as passion is contagious.
A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader does not suffer “analysis paralysis” but is always doing something in pursuit of the vision, inspiring others to do the same.
Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.
Honest dealings, predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in integrity will be more approachable by followers.
Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs on the team, only opportunities to achieve something great.
Magnanimity means giving credit where it is due. A magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as possible throughout the organization. Conversely, a good leader takes personal responsibility for failures. This sort of reverse magnanimity helps other people feel good about themselves and draws the team closer together. To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.
Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members of the team. A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their status does not make them a god. Mahatma Gandhi is a role model for Indian leaders, and he pursued a “follower-centric” leadership role.
Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.
Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions. Creativity gives leaders the ability to see things that others have not seen and thus lead followers in new directions. The most important question that a leader can ask is, “What if … ?” Possibly the worst thing a leader can say is, “I know this is a dumb question … ”
Fairness means dealing with others consistently and justly. A leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing judgment. He or she must avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete evidence. When people feel they that are being treated fairly, they reward a leader with loyalty and dedication.
Assertiveness is not the same as aggressiveness. Rather, it is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings. A leader must be assertive to get the desired results. Along with assertiveness comes the responsibility to clearly understand what followers expect from their leader.
Many leaders have difficulty striking the right amount of assertiveness, according to a study in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, published by the APA (American Psychological Association). It seems that being underassertive or overassertive may be the most common weakness among aspiring leaders.
A sense of humor is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as well as to defuse hostility. Effective leaders know how to use humor to energize followers. Humor is a form of power that provides some control over the work environment. And simply put, humor fosters good camaraderie.
Intrinsic traits such as intelligence, good looks, height and so on are not necessary to become a leader. Anyone can cultivate these leadership qualities.
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Yeah, show us poor sods who are unable to go to Permatang Pauh, some pixs. I am intrigued by the sea of supporters wearing Anwar’s masks.
“V”
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Really touched my heart to see Malaysians really “celebrate” on this day. The Indians with their drums and the Chinese with their lion dance was simply splendid. That’s the way it should be – together, Malay, Chinese and Indians come hand in hand to show support to our future PM. Not like the moronic BN and the equally silly UITM students who, with only a suggestion has ran berserk uncontrollably. Idiots!
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A GREAT NEW DAWN for the NEXT GENERATION of BOLEHLAND.
Lets give these evil racists, extremists, rapists, sodomists and corrupted elites … a big K.O. They have tarnished the Holy name of the RELIGION and the GOD. They have thrown the DIGNITY of the RACE and the POEPLE into the DRAIN.
This is the TIME for PAYBACK.
May the Al-Mighty send all of them to Hell.
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Hello all readers,
Syukur Alhamdulillah, Datuk Seri has started his journey towards being our 6th Prime Minister and the show begins tonight. For the record, I was there since 7.00am until about 11.45am and Masya Allah, I have never seen ever the thunderous and huge supporters of Pakatan Rakyat (PKR, DAP, PAS) bestowing in Penanti/ Permatang Pauh. I strongly believe and estimate the crowd of supporters ranging between 90,000 – 110,000. I am speechless…
Love live DSAI and lets us all work extra hard to ensure that his first step into Parliament happens on the 26th August when we cast our votes.
Salam Reformasi & HIDUP ANWAR !!!!
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